Rather fittingly, Countess Alcina Dimitrescu\u2019s vote count overshadowed other nominees in one of the most popular categories this year. In a franchise already rich in captivating – and terrifying – villainy, Lady Dimitrescu stood tall. From stalking players through the hallways of her lavish homestead, to cutting them to the core with retractable claw-like nails and tongue-lashings, she was an unforgettable presence. <\/p>\n Rivet | Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Tenzo | Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Alex Chen | Life is Strange: True Colors<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n From the Baker family\u2019s moldy bayou abode to the treacherous lands surrounding Castle Dimitrescu – Ethan Winters simply can\u2019t catch a break. The story of Resident Evil Village begins with deceptive simplicity: a man, his new family, and a tragic past colliding with a troubled future. Capcom does a wonderful job gradually building upon the scope and bombast of Ethan\u2019s quest for his daughter. Once the embers fade on the explosive finale, you may find yourself wondering how this tale began in a quiet home. <\/p>\n Life is Strange: True Colors<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n The voting race for Best Art Direction was a nail biter, but Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart takes the top prize. Insomniac Games has been refinding the vivid intergalactic art style of Ratchet & Clank since the PS2, and it shines in this premiere PS5 outing. Ratchet and Rivet\u2019s expressive faces shine with new levels of detailed animation. The PS5\u2019s super-fast SSD creates a kaleidoscopic collision as artistically contrasting dimensions quickly collide. Despite the scale of the adventure, Insomniac still manages to fluidly transition from frantic gameplay to cinematic cutscenes. Little Nightmares II takes second place with its unnerving locales, and It Takes Two secures third thanks to its irresistible little-people-big-world aesthetic.<\/p>\n Little Nightmares II<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n It Takes Two<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Hades<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n The infectious exuberance of Marvel\u2019s Guardians of the Galaxy extends beyond its snappy dialogue and eye-popping alien vistas. Eidos-Montr\u00e9al crammed a real who\u2019s-who of 1980s chart-toppers to convey, with music, the same over-the-top excitement found in its gameplay – and then<\/em> went the extra mile to create a fictional \u201880s metal band that could easily slot into a metalhead\u2019s modern playlist. And let\u2019s not forget the sweeping, adventurous score\u2026 just an audio treat to behold.<\/p>\n Ghost of Tsushima: Iki Island expansion<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Nier Replicant ver. 1.22474487139<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n A moving story about divorce and reconciliation, a wise-cracking talking book, and an army of militarized squirrels are just a few of the highlights found in It Takes Two, but these take a backseat to the incredible gameplay. Hazelight Studios\u2019 genre-spanning adventure is built from the ground-up with two player co-op in mind, so whether you find yourself shooting nails into walls for your partner to swing from, reversing time to save them from certain death or riding frogs through the garden together, you\u2019ll always have a buddy by your side during this joyous adventure. An instant multiplayer classic.<\/p>\n Call of Duty: Vanguard<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Battlefield 2042<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n EA\u2019s FIFA 22 promised a true next-gen football experience and it did not disappoint. Its HyperMotion technology brought us a more authentic and fluid football experience, while the use of 3D Audio – pulling us further into the match than ever before – paired with the DualSense controller\u2019s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, letting us feel the game in our hands as it played out on the pitch. EA truly delivered FIFA\u2019s most true-to-life football experience to date.<\/p>\n Hot Wheels Unleashed<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Riders Republic<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n NBA 2K22<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n As well as the numerous other updates made to Ghost of Tsushima for the Director\u2019s Cut, Sucker Punch also made significant improvements to the game\u2019s accessibility. Four new pre-set control layouts, larger text and subtitle sizes, the option to lock on to enemies, and directional haptics on the DualSense for the Guiding Wind brought the stunning adventure to more players than ever before.<\/p>\n Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Far Cry 6<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Few gameplay features make the DualSense wireless controller hum like a creative arsenal. For fans of the Ratchet & Clank series, it may come as little surprise that Rift Apart is an excellent showcase of the controller\u2019s haptics and adaptive triggers. You can truly feel the difference, whether blasting the humble Burst Pistol or unleashing the rumbling devastation of the Negatron Collider. Insomniac Games takes it a step further, allowing players extra finesse depending on how far they press the R2 adaptive trigger (e.g. press 50% to display throw arc, fully press to fire). From immersive gameplay to increased control, the proof is in players\u2019 hands.<\/p>\n Ghost of Tsushima Directors Cut<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Returnal<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Resident Evil Village<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n According to the fans, Insomniac Games stuck the aesthetic landing by taking home both Best Art Direction and Best Graphical Showcase this year. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart\u2019s Photo Mode is a wonderful way to appreciate the studio\u2019s attention to detail, zooming in on the tiny Lombax hairs across Ratchet\u2019s incredible face to the texture of his little brown nose. Even more, spectacular visual effects and lighting help sell the game\u2019s innovative weaponry. Few players will forget the first time they fired the Topiary Sprinkler at a massive boss, and watched in disbelief as the creature was instantly covered in countless tiny leaves. All these elements meld into a delightfully hypnotizing visual.<\/p>\n Resident Evil Village<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Far Cry 6<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Kena: Bridge of Spirits<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Ghost of Tsushima Director\u2019s Cut is more than a standard re-release. Sucker Punch\u2019s gorgeous adventure returns with a brand new story chapter, a whole new island to explore and updates to riotous multiplayer Legends. That\u2019s before even mentioning its DualSense features, super fast loading, 3D audio and resolution and frame rate options that only PS5 can offer. Ghost of Tsushima was always a breathtaking experience, but the Director\u2019s Cut introduces changes that elevate it to another level.<\/p>\n Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Mass Effect Legendary Edition<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Nier Replicant ver. 1.22474487139<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/arcader.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/ps-blog-game-of-the-year-2021-the-winners.jpg\")
<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\nLady Dimitrescu | Resident Evil Village<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nBest Story <\/em><\/strong><\/h1>\n
<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\nResident Evil Village<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/h4>\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nBest Art Direction <\/em><\/strong><\/h1>\n
<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\nRatchet & Clank: Rift Apart<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/h4>\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nBest Soundtrack <\/em><\/strong><\/h1>\n
<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\nMarvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/h4>\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nBest Multiplayer Experience <\/em><\/strong><\/h1>\n
<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\nIt Takes Two<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/h4>\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nBest Sports Game <\/em><\/strong><\/h1>\n
<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\nFIFA 22<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/h4>\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nBest Accessibility Features <\/em><\/strong><\/h1>\n
<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\nGhost of Tsushima Director’s Cut<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nBest Use of DualSense <\/em><\/strong><\/h1>\n
<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\nRatchet & Clank: Rift Apart<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/h4>\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nBest Graphical Showcase <\/em><\/strong><\/h1>\n
<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\nRatchet & Clank: Rift Apart<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/h4>\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nBest Re-Release <\/em><\/strong><\/h1>\n
<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\nGhost of Tsushima Director’s Cut<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nIndependent Game of the Year <\/em><\/strong><\/h1>\n